Maui to Utah and every bite in between.

What's something you'll find in almost every college dorm/apartment? Ramen and Cereal of course.

I'm just a Maui girl who loves to keep both her tummy and wallet satisfied. Follow my foodie adventures as I explore some of the delicious tastes Utah has to offer as well as some recipes I'll be trying myself. Enjoy!

After a 2-year absence from the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market I finally made a trip up north this past Saturday to check out all that's been happening! I forgot how large this event is until I got there and took a look at their visitor's map. The perimeter of the park consists of vendors and packaged goods so I decided to circle around and build an appetite before checking out the food vendors that line up down the middle of the park. This Farmers Market is the perfect place to find so many unique clothes, accessories, talent and people- ranging from the latest fashion trends to the freshest fruits and vegetables you could possibly find.

Just to recap my first post about the opening of the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market, this event runs every Saturday morning from June to October at Pioneer Park, operating from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This farmers market has been a great summer attraction to both tourists and locals alike for over 20 years.

For all you college kids looking for something to do this summer, this farmers market is a great choice for a date or just to hang with your buddies. I brought my boyfriend along with me on my visit and it turns out that this was his first ever visit to the SLC farmers market! We both enjoyed taking the stroll around the park and exploring the newest tastes and talents. If you and your date just want a grab a bite to eat and relax, be sure to bring a blanket for relaxing picnic in the park or grab a couple of chairs near the main stage and enjoy the music entertainment of the day!

Be sure to check out the Market Info table if you're a first-timer for information on the variety of vendors and what's new in the community! This booth is a great tool if you're looking for something specific at the market and you don't want to waste time wondering the whole park. Save time and get all the details in one stop!

Budget tip: I would also like to give you all a heads up that we arrived there a little after noon so by the time we left if was about closing time and for all of you who love to bargain this is the perfect time to go! Vendors who sell baked goods and pre-made food are more negotiable within the last half hour before closing so be sure to check them out if you're looking for some good grub for the fraction of the price. It's a win-win deal!

Look out for this board the next time you're strolling through the vendors!

Notice the tip jar in the background! There's a reason it's full, such a crowd pleaser!

It was a perfect day for a farmers market, sun was out and the heat definitely caught up to us soon after we arrived. After circling the perimeter a couple of times we searched for some refreshing drinks and it didn't take long til' we found the perfect refreshment. You guessed it- Fresh Mint Limeades! Such a refreshing twist to the traditional lemonades with the convenience of quick and friendly customer service. The people behind the tables prepared the drinks with a quick fill of some mason jars simply consisting of water, sugar, fresh mint and lime. With a few shakes, just moments later the serving tray were filled for customers to take as they please. These minty refreshments ran for $4 but the price definitely wasn't a problem for us, it was the perfect size and amount of sweetness for this hot day! Keep a look out for the limeade stand with the blue tent and try it for yourself the next time you're there!

More local tastes and talents

Festivities for the family

For all you mamas and pops out there who want a fun activity for your kids on a Saturday afternoon, "Hoops O' Funn" performs within the last half hour of the market's operating hours. They also provide hula-hoops to just play around with nearby their booth where they sell a variety of accessories of all sizes. Bring the kids and show them your moves!

SLC Farmers Market encourages both vendors and customers to clean up after themselves in an easy and simple way. Do your part in keeping Pioneer Park clean and waste-free by throwing away your trash at these "Recycle & Landfill" stations that are located all around the park. Everyone can make a difference!

As you can tell my summer sweet tooth is kicking in with yet another post on summer treats. I usually stick with my old fashion homemade smoothies, but when I heard of Rita's from a close friend of mine I knew that this would be the next big venue this summer. If you haven't heard of or tried Rita's famous ice custards, a simple way to put it is that it's a perfect mix between really fine shaved ice and the best soft serves you'll probably ever taste in your life. Yes, it really is that good. Don't be fooled but the ice cream vibe it may give off, Rita's serves a variety of frozen treats that will definitely satisfy anyone young and old. Not only do they give you a variety of treats, they also have a great assortment of flavors ranging from any savor and sweet flavors you could think of. My personal favorite is the gelati because it's a mixture of italian ice and frozen custard. Read below and you'll understand why this place has caused such a hype!

"Your Guide to Ordering Happiness"Rita's offers six different types of frozen delectables that you may choose from which include:

It's summer time and smoothie season is back! I can't even count how many times I went to Jamba Juice, Orange Peel, and all those other smoothie places in the last year or so, spending $5-10 just for a drink that I could make in my own kitchen. But now that I have a blender of my own I figured I'd put it to some use and save a few bucks at the same time. The following recipe is simple and definitely affordable with just a few ingredients that have little to no prepping involved.

If I could pick any category of food to make at any given day of the week I would definitely go with pasta. If you're like me- a college student with a stiff budge, you know pasta is just one of those foods that's both quick and easy to make, yet it satisfies both the stomach and wallet.

Today I decided to go with something different. Instead of making the usual and plain pasta , I searched around for a simple twist of tastes and it didn't take long until I found exactly what I was looking for.

Creamy Asparagus-Chicken-Bow-Ties is the recipe of the day folks! It's the perfect Savory Saturday food-fix that definitely does not disappoint. I found this recipe while I was shuffling through some cookbooks at the Barnes & Noble up the street. Just another one of those "quick and easy weeknight meals" books. But really, any cookbook with "quick and easy" will always get my attention because of three words- college student budget.

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding asparagus and mushrooms for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain and return to saucepan.

In small bowl, mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and the milk until smooth. Stir cheese mixture and chicken into pasta mixture.

Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes, stirring gently, until pasta is evenly coated with sauce and mixture is thoroughly heated. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Four servings / 30 minutes

This is perfect for all you college kids who need some "end of the year" celebration meals with your buddies or maybe just a quick-fix dinner idea for that significant other! Either way, you won't be disappointed!

To start things off, I'm going back to the basics with a good ol' famers market- Utah's very own Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market that is! This special event has been around for over 22 years and has been known as one of Salt Lake City's top summer traditions. Culture, tastes, fashion, and talent are just some of the things you will find at the Downtown SLC Farmers Market. Bring your family, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, pets, and everything in between to this once-a-week event that will definitely not disappoint!

June 14, 2014 is the opening date of the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market. "Saturday Farmers Market" operates from June to October and it's held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday at Pioneer Park. Interested in attending? Check out their website for all the details! https://slcfarmersmarket.org